Property crime up in Worcester over last year; shootings were early concern

Tuesday

Apr 10, 2012 at 4:00 PMApr 10, 2012 at 6:54 PM

By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Property crime — specifically, breaking and entering — has risen by almost 15 percent in the city over the first three months of the year compared to the first three months of last year, according to crime statistics released by the city today.

Those crimes, which include home break-ins, remain a persistent issue. During the past seven years, the crime of breaking and entering has increased by 3.5 percent, Police Chief Gary J. Gemme said this afternoon.

While shootings and stabbings grab attention, it is the break-ins, reports of vandalism, and thefts of and from cars that affect residents' quality of life most severely. There have been 507 reports of breaking and entering in Worcester this year, from Jan. 1 to March 31, an increase from 442 over the same span last year.

“It is one of those crime categories (breaking and entering) that when it is happening in your neighborhood, everyone feels affected,” Chief Gemme said.

There has been an increase in vandalism and larceny from a motor vehicle so far this year as well, the three month year-to-year comparison shows. Most recently, residents in the neighborhoods of Howland Terrace, Morningside Road, Hadwen Lane and Hadwen Road awoke over the weekend to find graffiti and some property damage.

“That has an impact in a neighborhood when they wake up in the morning and find graffiti and damage on property,” the chief said.

While the three-month comparisons show increases in those categories, the seven-year average of motor vehicle theft, vandalism and larceny from a motor vehicle show those categories are down 30 percent, or more.

In the first three months of this year and last year, there have been three homicides. Shootings for the beginning of this year started off at a quick pace, but seemed to have leveled off. The last shooting was on March 4.

There have been 5 non-fatal shootings from Jan. 1 to April 9 of this year, an increase of two from the same time frame in 2011. “This year, particularly over the first two months, we were concerned over the shootings,” Chief Gemme said. “If it had continued on that trend, this would have been a dangerous year.”

The department continues to investigate all non-fatal shootings and stabbings the same as they investigate killings. The Shooting Response Team, a group of investigators, was also created to track down suspects in shooting incidents.

The group was created at a time when the department's resources remain stretched, but the need to investigate these incidents continued to be a priority, the chief said. Stabbings, 23 of which occurred from Jan. 1 to April 9 this year, are down compared to the 30 that occurred during the same time frame last year, a decrease of 23 percent.

Investigators not only review cases of shootings and stabbings, but they continually monitor the locations of these crimes. Tactical Response Areas are usually created when shootings and stabbings occur in a certain area of the city.

Overall, the city remains safe, the chief said. Community involvement and work by area crime watch groups strengthens the work done by police, he said.

“It remains safe, because of the community involvement,” Chief Gemme said.

While reviewing crime statistics through year-to-year comparisons helps identify trends, Chief Gemme said the Crime Analysis Unit's work to identify long-term trends gives the true picture of changes in the city.

The unit continually compares crime categories through a seven-year average which allows command officers to see trends throughout several years, Chief Gemme said.